Naming of Health Center on New Baptist Health Care Campus Will Honor Bear Family Foundation’s Historic Gift

10/14/2021

A full color rendering of the Bear Family Foundation Health Center.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (Oct. 14, 2021) – Baptist Health Care Foundation will honor a $4.5 million gift commitment from the Bear Family Foundation by naming the health center on the new Baptist Health Care campus the “Bear Family Foundation Health Center.” The gift is the largest in the Bear Family Foundation history.

The new Baptist Health Care campus, which is under construction at Brent Lane and I-110, represents the single largest investment in health care facilities, services and programs in Northwest Florida history. The 57-acre campus will include an acute care hospital, a behavioral health unit and the Bear Family Foundation Health Center that will feature:

178,000 square feet
6 floors
Medical office suites with 162 exam rooms
Multispecialty services including oncology, infusion, women’s health, outpatient imaging, bariatrics, surgery pre-optimization, cardiology, lab and wound care
Conference center for public events, health education and community outreach

The Bear family and their foundation have a long history of philanthropy in the Northwest Florida community. “You give by doing,” Lewis Bear Jr. said. “Our family connects with the vision of Baptist Health Care – improving quality of life in the community. The health of the community is vital to the future success of the community, and we saw this as an opportunity to help many people for many years.”

Belle Bear said she is grateful to see their family continuing that legacy of generosity. “I’m so proud of my children and grandchildren for giving back,” Belle Bear said. “We have never had to convince them or coax them to give their time and donate dollars to causes that matter to them.”

The Bear Family Foundation’s gift is also the largest gift ever donated to Baptist Health Care Foundation.

“The Bear Family Foundation and Baptist Health Care share a common vision as we all truly want to improve the quality of life in the community we call home,” said Baptist Health Care President and CEO Mark Faulkner. “We are deeply grateful to the Bear Family Foundation, not just for this gift to Baptist, but for all they do for our community. Their legacy of generosity will live on for generations.”

For more information, visit baptisthealthcarefoundation.org or call 850.469.7906.